NASCAR news:
▪  In today's Kitsap Sun -- NASCAR legends are "ready to race" for legislation -- "I’m ready to race," Richard Petty said as he met with supporters before a Washington State Labor Council function. Says House Speaker Frank Chopp: "(Petty's) not a member of the House last time I checked."
▪  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Racetrack bills a tough sell so far in Olympia -- Whether the NASCAR star power is enough to get the House and Senate bills out of committee is the question. A day after the speedway bill got hearings in each chamber, there’s plenty of room to doubt it will.
▪  In today's News Tribune -- Leaders predict NASCAR defeat; Chopp says too many oppose it 
▪  At Postman on Politics -- Has NASCAR become a class issue? -- Chopp's comments were clearly an attempt to discredit Petty, and the NASCAR lobbying effort... I never heard anything like that when the Mariners, Seahawks and Sonics were looking for public money for their facilities.
▪  In today's Seattle Times -- NASCAR fails in the fine print (editorial) -- A racetrack is not worth violating the GMA or forcing a new relationship between the state and local governments.
▪  In yesterday's (Longview) Daily News -- NASCAR developer to visit Lewis County 

Legislative news:
▪  In today's Seattle P-I -- State's overhaul of health coverage shrinking fast -- As lawmakers peck away at the findings of Gov. Chris Gregoire's much-touted Blue Ribbon Commission on Health Care, observers say the state may end up with a small hop this year rather than a giant leap.
▪  At The Olympian blog -- Rep. Williams clamps down on disclosing union documents -- Bill would shield  “records from any collective bargaining, labor negotiations, or grievance or mediation.”
▪  At Shiftbreak.com -- Reforming workers' compensation (audio file) -- "...the neurosurgeon took one look at me, laid his lunch aside, put his head down on the table and went to sleep..." Workers talk about the independent medical examiners hired to evaluate worker injuries.
▪  Today from AP -- Senate approves rainy day fund -- If it passes the Legislature, it will be placed on the November ballot as a constitutional amendment to be approved by voters.

Local news:
▪  In today's Kitsap Sun -- Judge: Do the wright thing (get it?!) by Navy yard workers -- At least 72 shipwrights who worked at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard between 1993 and 1999 could be awarded between $3 million and $10 million if a judge’s ruling regarding "high pay" stands.
▪  In today's Bellingham Herald -- Ferndale partially bans big-box stores -- City council temporarily blocks all new large retail establishments until the city figures out how to handle them. 

National news:
▪  In today's Wash. Post -- Payday lenders try to fend off restrictions -- The industry's $10 million public relations push comes as several states consider new restrictions on payday advances
▪  Today from NPR -- Retiree health care shifts to unions -- Some employers are shifting health-care responsibility for retirees to unions. Goodyear is giving the USW $1 billion to take over its plan.
▪  In today's Wash. Post -- Can free trade be a fair deal? (Meyerson column) -- An important new debate is taking shape that is likely to distinguish liberal from centrist thinking for decades to come.
▪  In today's NY Times -- Hospital group offers plan on health coverage for all -- A group of the largest commercial hospital chains proposes that individuals be required to have basic health coverage.
▪  In today's LA Times -- Writers Guild wins "webisode" dispute -- In a victory for the Writers Guild of America, an NLRB judge rejects an NBC Universal complaint that the union illegally hampered the production of Web episodes of such TV shows as "The Office." (That's what she said.)

WHAT:    Public hearing on HJM 4008, a resolution urging Congress to pass the EFCA

WHEN:    Thursday, Feb. 22 at 8 a.m.

WHERE:  House Commerce and Labor Committee, Hearing Room C

WHO:      U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, one of 234 House co-sponsors of the Employee Free Choice Act.  (Reps. Rick Larsen, Brian Baird, Norm Dicks, Jim McDermott and Adam Smith are also co-sponsors.)